Celtics Notebook: Allen up for 3-point challenge

It should be the reigning 3-point champion against the all-time 3-point king when a pair of Celtics square off behind the arc at All-Star weekend.

By Scott Souza/Daily News staff

MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

By Scott Souza/Daily News staff

Posted Feb. 5, 2011 at 12:01 AM
Updated Feb 5, 2011 at 5:05 AM

By Scott Souza/Daily News staff

Posted Feb. 5, 2011 at 12:01 AM
Updated Feb 5, 2011 at 5:05 AM

BOSTON

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It should be the reigning 3-point champion against the all-time 3-point king when a pair of Celtics square off behind the arc at All-Star weekend.

Ray Allen got word Wednesday night he would be playing in his 10th All-Star game, along with Celtic teammates Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo. But the soon-to-be NBA 3-point career record holder revealed before last night's contest against the Mavericks he was already planning to make the trip to Los Angeles after being invited to participate in the 3-point shootout. He will likely get a chance to take on his teammate with Pierce the winner of last year's event.

Pierce petitioned the NBA via Twitter last week to include Allen in the contest. Prior to last night's game, Allen responded to that challenge.

"What do you mean 'Am I up for the challenge?"' he asked. "I'm up for any challenge. I'm always up for a challenge. When would you ever think I would back down in shooting? Never."

Allen said he assumed from the line of questioning that word had gotten out that he'd been invited to the shootout, which it hadn't before he inadvertently broke the news himself.

"I assumed you guys all knew because you were asking me about Paul and his challenge," Allen said.

Allen entered last night's game eight 3-pointers shy of Reggie Miller's all-time record of 2,560 and is on pace to pass Miller within the next four games. He won the 3-point contest in 2001 and scoffed at the notion he might be at a disadvantage against Pierce because he is a jump shooter and Pierce is a set shooter. Historically, jump shooters tend to tire later in the contest.

"Jump shooters have to be in shape (to win), huh?" said the notorious conditioning freak.

While Allen will be ready to take on Pierce on Feb. 19 in Los Angeles, he is thrilled he will be playing alongside him at the Staples Center the next day as one of four Celtics in the All-Star game.

"It's a great, great accomplishment for each of the four individuals," Allen said. "It's great for the organization. It's really a testimony to this whole team and what this whole team has done. Everybody has sacrificed. The four of us reap the benefits, but we represent the whole team. Not only the team, but the whole organization and the city."

The Celtics became the first team since the 2006 Pistons to get four participants.

"Everyone on that team at the time was so selfless," Allen said of the Pistons. "Defensively, they were on the same page and offensively everyone had an effect on the game in his own way. It's the same way here. Me, Rondo, Kevin and Paul, each one of us plays the game in a different way, but we're effective when we're out there and very efficient."

Page 2 of 2 - Allen, who was named an injury replacement his first two seasons in Boston and was not invited last year, said he grew pessimistic about his chances when word hadn't leaked to him about the selection earlier in the day. He said he received a text message confirming his pick while at home after Wednesday's late-afternoon practice.

"Normally you would find out the day before and you just keep quiet about it," Allen said. "I truly didn't (know this time). I didn't know how it was going to go down. I assumed I didn't make it because by the time I spoke with (the media after practice) I hadn't heard anything. With this, no news means negative. But that wasn't the case."

When asked about which other Eastern Conference All-Star he wants to join he and his three teammates on the floor, Allen said: "Dwight (Howard) is looking very good to us right now. And he's (going to be) a free agent."

Allen added he doesn't want Eastern Conference coach Doc Rivers to feel pressure to play him any specific number of minutes, given the circumstances.

"It's not like it decides who has homecourt advantage for the Finals," he said. "Then I would be like: 'Get me in there!"'

***

Shaquille O'Neal sat out last night's game with a sore Achilles. Rivers said he was questionable for tomorrow's game vs. Orlando.

O'Neal's absence meant last night was the first start for Kendrick Perkins since he tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Perkins returned from the six-month rehabilitation on Jan. 25 vs. Cleveland. He had been averaging 22.2 minutes per game off the bench in five reserve stints.

(Scott Souza is a Daily News staff writer. He can be reached at 781-398-8006 or ssouza@cnc.com.)